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Whelks — Part 2

Habitat.--Florida.

Sub-genus SYCOTYPUS, Gill

Shell with deep channelled suture, square-shouldered whorls, without knobs; hairy, thick, brown epidermis covers exterior; interior yellowish, smooth.

The Channelled Whelk (F. canaliculatus, Say) is distinguished from its companion by the channel that follows its sutures. The egg cases have not the double-keeled edge, but narrow to a sharp margin. In most particulars the two species are alike.

The Indians cut the long, white columella of the giant whelk into beads to make their wampum belts. Three beads were worth an English penny in early Colonial days in Massachusetts. A fathom string was worth five shillings. In the South the shells are often used to border garden beds and paths. Drinking vessels were made of them by Indians. Fulgur flower pots are often seen to-day in Florida. The sharp edge of the aperture made cutting tools for the aborigines. Length, 6 to 9 inches.

Habitat.--Cape Cod to Texas.

The Pear Conch (F. pyrum, Dillw.) has a depressed, unarmed spire, with a deep suture. The sculpture consists of alternately weak and strong spiral striae and angular shoulder keels. Bands of pale brown cross the white ground of the whorls. The canal is long and tapering. Length, 4 to 5 inches.

Habitat.--Florida and Gulf of Mexico.

Genus EUTHRIA, Gray

Shell spindle-shaped, smooth; aperture oval, ending in short, recurved canal. Species, ten, widely distributed.

The Dark Euthria (E. dira, Rve.), liver-coloured when the ashy powder is removed, well represents the genus. Deep revolving channels, close together, engrave the surface. The spire has longitudinal folds. Length, 1 to 2 inches.

Habitat.--Monterey, Cal., to Sitka.

Genus CANTHARUS, Bolt.

Shell bucciniform, with swollen body whorl and narrowing to base; aperture and spire of about equal length; siphonal canal at posterior end of aperture; columella arched and faintly ridged. About fifty species in warm seas.

The Painted Cantharus (C. tincta, Conr.) has the form of a typical Buccinum, with surface finely ribbed both ways, somewhat tuberculated, with variegated markings of brown and white. Length, 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

Habitat.--Florida, West Indies.

C. cancellaria, Conr., is ash-coloured, has strong spiral ribs, crossed by longitudinal folds, forming fine tubercles. Lip strongly lined within; spire prolonged; canal recurved. Length, 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

Habitat.--Gulf of Mexico.